This Month:
HELP YOUR MOM SAVE $3,600!
People all over the country are helping their moms save as much as $3,600 per year on the cost of prescription drugs. You can too!
We all know the high cost of medicine can be a burden on mothers who have limited income and resources. But there is extra help — available through Social Security — that could pay part of her monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments. The extra help could be worth up to $3,600 per year.
To figure out whether your mother is eligible, Social Security needs to know her income and the value of her savings, investments and real estate (other than the home she lives in). To qualify for the extra help, she must be receiving Medicare and also have:
Income limited to $15,600 for an individual or $21,000 for a married couple living together. Even if her annual income is higher, she still may be able to get some help with monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments. Some examples where income may be higher include if she or her spouse:
—Support other family members who live with them;
—Have earnings from work; or
—Live in Alaska or Hawaii.
Resources limited to $11,990 for an individual or $23,970 for a married couple living together. Resources include such things as bank accounts, stocks and bonds. We do not count her house and car as resources.
Social Security has an easy-to-use online application that you can help complete for your mom. You can find it at www.socialsecurity.gov. To apply by phone or have an application mailed to you, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask for the Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs (SSA-1020). Or go to the nearest Social Security office.
To learn more about the Medicare prescription drug plans and special enrollment periods, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048).
WEBSITE HELPS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Social Security touches the lives of people with disabilities every day. That’s why we joined 21 other federal agencies to create www.disabilityinfo.gov.
Disabilityinfo.gov is a comprehensive website designed to offer people with disabilities access to important information they can use.
Disabilityinfo.gov is a one-stop website — not only for people with disabilities, but also for older Americans, employers, Social Security beneficiaries, community- and faith-based service providers and others. Disabilityinfo.gov features information on a number of related topics. The site is easy to navigate, and is organized into subject areas, including benefits, civil rights, community life, education, employment, health, housing, technology and transportation.
Disabilityinfo.gov also is a useful information and referral tool for responding to the questions and concerns of Social Security’s nearly 50 million beneficiaries. Individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), disability or retirement benefits, as well as advocates who work with beneficiaries, will find answers to questions about work incentives, the appeals process, Medicare and Medicaid, youth transitioning from school to work, accessible transportation and much more.
If you want to get specific, detailed information about benefits available through Social Security for people with disabilities, you can go straight to the source: www.socialsecurity.gov/disability. On Social Security’s website, you can even complete your application over the Internet from the comfort of your own home. Just go to www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability to start your application.
The Disabilityinfo.gov web site shares general information about how Social Security can help people with disabilities, and much more. The web site offers a free subscription service where you can sign up to receive Disability Connection, a quarterly newsletter, as well as other e-mail alerts covering information tailored to your individual interests. Just fill in your email address under the gold “subscribe” banner on the right side of the page.
To learn more about information available for people with disabilities, visit www.disabilityinfo.gov. To learn more about Social Security, visit www.socialsecurity.gov.
SOME LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT THE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Nearly every American is very familiar with at least one important aspect of Social Security — his or her Social Security number. Most of us know that number by heart, but otherwise never give it much thought. There is a lot of history and trivia behind the Social Security number and card. Here are a handful of interesting facts about them:
The artist who designed the original Social Security card in 1936, Fred Happel of Albany, N.Y., also designed the famous "Flying Tigers" logo used by General Chennault's forces during World War II.
There are about one billion possible Social Security number combinations.
Approximately 442 million Social Security numbers have been issued since 1936. About 280 million of those numbers remain active. Social Security does not reuse Social Security numbers.
Social Security assigns about five and one-half million new numbers each year.
Generally speaking, you are limited to three replacement Social Security cards in a year and 10 during your lifetime. There are some exceptions.
Here is one more fact about the Social Security card and number that everyone should know: There is never a charge for getting a new or replacement Social Security card or for changing your name with Social Security. Please remember this if you ever get offers from “middlemen” who want to charge you a fee to help you get a Social Security card or number or change your name on your Social Security card and records.
Another important thing to remember is keep your card in a safe place, with your important papers. You should not carry it with you unless you know you are going to need it, such as for a new employer. And don’t give your Social Security number out to just anyone. Safeguarding your Social Security card and number will go a long way to keep your identity safe.
If you’d like to learn more about the Social Security card and number, visit our website on the subject at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber/.
For more information about Social Security, visit our website at www.socialsecurity.gov.
© 2008 Mirror Image, Inc., Albuquerque, NM